Abstract P6-05-20: Quitxt Mobile Cessation Service for Cancer Patients: Development and Implementation Process
Authors: Patricia Chalela, Vivian Cortez, Armida Flores, Sandra Sivak, Ysabel Lew, Edgar Munoz, Cliff Despres, Sarah Ruiz, Ramon Cancino, Mio Kitano, Rahul Mundlamuri, Ganesh Gunnam, David Akopian, Ruben Mesa, Amelie Ramirez
Journal: Cancer Research (2023)

Abstract Background: Physicians have unparalleled access to smokers. It is estimated that over 70% of smokers visit a physician every year, which provides a powerful opportunity to promote tobacco cessation by asking about smoking behaviors and providing cessation advice and counseling to tobacco users at every visit. In general, smokers consider a physician’s advice to quit an important motivator to make a quit attempt. We adapted our Quitxt program to the patient population attending the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. Every patient is screened for tobacco use; if the patient is a tobacco user, healthcare providers (HCPs) advise them to quit, offer nicotine replacement therapy if needed, and recommend enrollment in the Quitxt program. Purpose: We present the development process and implementation of Quitxt, our evidence-based, bilingual mobile cessation service tailored to the patient population of the Mays Cancer Center (MCC). Methods: Tobacco screening was integrated into EPIC, and the Quitxt program was added to the BestPractice Advisories Banner. All patients are screened for tobacco use. If a tobacco-using patient is identified, the BestPractice Advisories Banner will appear, prompting HCPs to counsel patients to quit and encourage them to enroll in Quitxt. Selecting referral to Quitxt will activate our Patient Navigator (PNs) follow-up. PNs contact patients and provide support, positive reinforcement, and encouragement. They continue with monthly follow-ups for the duration of the program. The EPIC system also places instructions on how to enroll in Quitxt in the patients’ after-visit summary. The Quitxt library of messages was adapted to the patient population of the MCC. We also developed a news-style video for HCPs with peer modeling on how to approach patients and enroll them in Quitxt. Results: The program will be launched at the MCC on August 1st, 2022. We will present the development and implementation process and preliminary results related to patient enrollment characteristics, stages of change, smoking abstinence, and patient navigation support. Conclusion: This project will greatly increase the accessibility and utilization of a bilingual evidence-based smoking cessation service among primary care and cancer patients. Quitxt will also serve as a model that can be easily adapted and replicated by any organization or network interested in serving their patients with an evidence-based cessation program. Quitxt represents an affordable approach to reach tobacco-using patients, produce a public health impact, reduce health service costs, and reduce tobacco-related diseases and mortality. Citation Format: Patricia Chalela, Vivian Cortez, Armida Flores, Sandra Sivak, Ysabel Lew, Edgar Munoz, Cliff Despres, Sarah Ruiz, Ramon Cancino, Mio Kitano, Rahul Mundlamuri, Ganesh Gunnam, David Akopian, Ruben Mesa, Amelie Ramirez. Quitxt Mobile Cessation Service for Cancer Patients: Development and Implementation Process [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-05-20.